The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: kreativekim on July 21, 2015, 10:55:57 am
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Hi, I need help taming 2 male goats. I had 2 goats from kids, years ago and they were very tame. I have just rescued a 11 year old, full billy and a 14 month old, full billy. These goats are far from tame, you can't even get within 20 feet of them. I know it is going to take a long time to get their trust, but their hooves are in a really bad way and need doing now. They also won't going in their shelter when it rains. Can someone give me some advise on this situation, I would be most grateful. Kim:) :goat:
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Do you have any other goats which are tame and come to the bucket? I was thinking, and please someone correct me if I am wrong, that if you put the tame goats in with the goats which need taming then they would come with the rest of them to food? Maybe let them see you petting the other goats, so they can see that you're trustable as well?
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:wave: I'm afraidI can't help with your request but I'm sure that someone who know how to will place your request in the Goat section so that you receive expert advice, all the best
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bananas and a heap of patience :fc:
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bananas and a heap of patience :fc:
Or a heap of bananas and lots of patience,lol!
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If at present you can't get within 20ft of them, then even with kind words and bribes of favourite food, it will, as you say, take a long time to get their confidence. In fact, as distust is their default setting, you may never achieve it.
Goats are prey animals. These ones obviously see humans as predators. So in my book, you'll have to do something more positive to convince them otherwise.
So - before you go any further - stop looking them in the eye when you approach. In fact try not to look them in the eye at all until you have their confidence. Eying the prey is what predators do when moving in for the kill, so when you do it then you are just re enforcing the goats' worse fears. Look at the ground or rear of the animal. You can still see what they're doing but they stay calmer.
You need to herd or somehow trap the animals in a pen or shed from which they can't escape. Then get a collar or halter on them and tie them up to something strong. Make sure you can easily release them if need be and don't leave them alone and tied up.
Once tied up, they'll probably jump up and down frantically for a few minutes or throw themselves on the ground. Just give them some space and they'll soon calm down.
Keeping your distance, get a long branch, or long stick with a glove on the end and stroke the animal gently. After a while they'll realise that this contact doesn't kill them, and in fact doesn't hurt. It might even be pleasant. At this stage I don't go near enough to invade the animal's personal space. (Hence the long stick/branch) But keep moving about so it gets used to my presence without feeling too threatened.
When it remains calm when stroked from afar and has stopped panicking as you move about, then you can approach it. I usually then use my hand to gently and briefly scratch its backside. Once it's realised that this is quite pleasant, you can move your hand to gently scratch or stroke it's back and then move gradually to its shoulders. When it appears relaxed at you touching it, then give it some treat to reward it and let it go.
Then do the same the next day until it is happy for you to touch it without being restrained.
If the animal is that wild that you don't get as far as hand stroking in one go, then just get it used to being stroked from afar, give it a treat and release it. Next day it should at least be a bit less worried, so try and progress a bit further.
Good luck.
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If at present you can't get within 20ft of them, then even with kind words and bribes of favourite food, it will, as you say, take a long time to get their confidence. In fact, as distust is their default setting, you may never achieve it.
Goats are prey animals. These ones obviously see humans as predators. So in my book, you'll have to do something more positive to convince them otherwise.
So - before you go any further - stop looking them in the eye when you approach. In fact try not to look them in the eye at all until you have their confidence. Eying the prey is what predators do when moving in for the kill, so when you do it then you are just re enforcing the goats' worse fears. Look at the ground or rear of the animal. You can still see what they're doing but they stay calmer.
You need to herd or somehow trap the animals in a pen or shed from which they can't escape. Then get a collar or halter on them and tie them up to something strong. Make sure you can easily release them if need be and don't leave them alone and tied up.
Once tied up, they'll probably jump up and down frantically for a few minutes or throw themselves on the ground. Just give them some space and they'll soon calm down.
Keeping your distance, get a long branch, or long stick with a glove on the end and stroke the animal gently. After a while they'll realise that this contact doesn't kill them, and in fact doesn't hurt. It might even be pleasant. At this stage I don't go near enough to invade the animal's personal space. (Hence the long stick/branch) But keep moving about so it gets used to my presence without feeling too threatened.
When it remains calm when stroked from afar and has stopped panicking as you move about, then you can approach it. I usually then use my hand to gently and briefly scratch its backside. Once it's realised that this is quite pleasant, you can move your hand to gently scratch or stroke it's back and then move gradually to its shoulders. When it appears relaxed at you touching it, then give it some treat to reward it and let it go.
Then do the same the next day until it is happy for you to touch it without being restrained.
If the animal is that wild that you don't get as far as hand stroking in one go, then just get it used to being stroked from afar, give it a treat and release it. Next day it should at least be a bit less worried, so try and progress a bit further.
Good luck.
I smell a jelly marks/monty fan ! I'd never thought of join up with goats but why not!
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True , if it works for horses why not goats, unless their herd response is a lot different
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Well, I must admit I haven't tried it on goats because I've never had any that terrified.
But it's worked well for cattle and sheep and donkeys. :sunshine:
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Sounds like a plan!! Patience and windless should win!!
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I must admit I once had an older goat who was causing all sorts of problems so I haltered her for a couple of days with plenty of water and feed. She was a totally different animal afterwards, completely calmed her down.
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easier to bucket train them in winter when they are hungry and see you as bringer of food. taming a 12 year? not sure. when I first got mine they use to climb the walls in fear now they mug me for food.
ref - feet, use a race or catch them in a stable. make a crush?